In the gravitational potential energy formula GPE = m g h, what does g represent?

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Multiple Choice

In the gravitational potential energy formula GPE = m g h, what does g represent?

The main idea here is that gravitational potential energy depends on gravity acting on the object as well as its mass and height. In the formula GPE = m g h, the symbol g is the acceleration due to gravity—the rate at which objects accelerate toward the planet because of gravity. On Earth, this is about 9.8 m/s^2 and is the same for all objects near the surface (ignoring air resistance). The units line up to give energy in joules: kilograms times meters per second squared times meters equals joules. The other possibilities refer to different quantities: the gravitational constant of the universe is a separate constant used in a different law, height is h, and mass is m. So g specifically represents the acceleration due to gravity.

The main idea here is that gravitational potential energy depends on gravity acting on the object as well as its mass and height. In the formula GPE = m g h, the symbol g is the acceleration due to gravity—the rate at which objects accelerate toward the planet because of gravity. On Earth, this is about 9.8 m/s^2 and is the same for all objects near the surface (ignoring air resistance). The units line up to give energy in joules: kilograms times meters per second squared times meters equals joules. The other possibilities refer to different quantities: the gravitational constant of the universe is a separate constant used in a different law, height is h, and mass is m. So g specifically represents the acceleration due to gravity.

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